‘Birds of a feather’: Trump’s endorsement of Cuomo divides NYC voters

New York City – For Jessica Dejesus, deciding who to ballot for arsenic the adjacent politician of New York City came down to the last minutes.

The 40-year-old nonmigratory of the Mott Haven neighbourhood successful the Bronx admittedly had not been pursuing the contention closely, but planned to ballot for erstwhile Governor Andrew Cuomo. She recalled his near-nightly tv appearances erstwhile helium was politician of New York State amid the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3NYC mayoral election: Candidates, polls, results and what’s astatine stake
• list 2 of 3Will Trump’s enactment triumph Cuomo last-minute surge – oregon could it wounded him?
• list 3 of 3Can Trump legally halt national backing to New York City if Mamdani wins?

“He was our feline during the pandemic,” she reflected.

But a time earlier the election, Dejesus saw a video connected TikTok detailing US President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Cuomo.

Jessica Dejesus decided successful the past infinitesimal to enactment campaigner Zohran Mamdani [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera]

While her feelings towards the candidates successful the mayoral contention whitethorn beryllium ho-hum, Dejesus knows she is nary instrumentality of Trump. The motion made her springiness upstart campaigner Social Zohran Mamdani, a antiauthoritarian socialist, a person look.

“We can’t person that. I don’t disagree with everything Trump does, but helium chopped backmost connected nutrient stamps, and that affects a batch of people,” she said, referring to restrictions connected US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits successful a measure passed by Trump and Republicans earlier this year.

“I recognize you person to halt atrocious radical coming implicit the border, but determination are a batch of bully immigrants present arsenic well,” she said, referring to Trump’s wide deportation drive.

Walking into her voting site, she told Al Jazeera she inactive had not made up her mind. “I’ll person to hold until that paper’s successful beforehand of me,” she said.

Moments later, she emerged: “I voted for Mamdani!” she said.

‘You truly person nary choice’

A neighbourhood similar Mott Haven, which was solidly mixed during the June superior successful its turnout for Mamdani and Cuomo, shows conscionable however reactive Trump’s endorsement could beryllium to the race: a poison pill for immoderate and a last nail successful the coffin for others.

Trump, meanwhile, hoped his endorsement, soon followed by that of billionaire Elon Musk, would assistance rally blimpish New Yorkers who came retired successful atypically ample numbers successful the city’s 2024 statesmanlike election.

“Whether you personally similar Andrew Cuomo oregon not, you truly person nary choice,” Trump said successful a societal media station connected Monday.

“You indispensable ballot for him and anticipation helium does a fantastic job. He is susceptible of it, Mamdani is not!”

Cuomo has besides been explicitly reaching out to Republicans, hoping to tribunal their votes. About 11 percent of New York’s 4.7 cardinal voters were registered with the Republican Party successful 2024.

Recent polls person shown Republican campaigner Curtis Sliwa carrying astir 14 percent of the ballot – not a immense amount, but perchance capable to adjacent Mamdani’s pb implicit the erstwhile governor.

It remained unclear however palmy the enactment from Trump – who has besides threatened to people metropolis backing if Mamdani was elected – would be. But for immoderate staunch supporters of Sliwa, Trump’s involution did small to alteration their minds.

“[Trump’s endorsement] doesn’t alteration my vote. Sliwa is for the radical and I person religion successful that,” said Artemio Figuero, a 59-year-old metropolis thoroughfare cleaner, who spoke to Al Jazeera successful Jackson Heights, Queens.

“He was a protector of the neighbourhood,” Figuero added, referring to Sliwa’s stewardship of the vigilante anti-crime Guardian Angels group.

Artemio Figuero, 59, stands extracurricular of a polling presumption successful Jackson Heights, Queens [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera]

Other Republicans who had agelong grown accustomed to voting extracurricular of their enactment successful the liberal-dominated section elections saw Trump’s enactment arsenic a affirmative development, if not a game-changer.

“I similar that Trump endorsed him,” Lola Ferguson, a 53-year-old societal idiosyncratic and registered Republican who was already readying to ballot for Cuomo, told Al Jazeera successful Mott Haven.

“He knows that [Cuomo’s] the amended lucifer for the city,” she said.

Cuomo, for his part, has denied Trump’s endorsement counts, noting that Trump had referred to him arsenic a “bad Democrat” compared to Mamdani, whom helium falsely called a “communist”.

Still, for Mamdani supporters, Trump’s determination was not unexpected. Cuomo has been supported by an array of the city’s wealthiest residents, including billionaires similar Bill Ackman and Miriam Adelson, who person besides backed Trump.

“Birds of a feather flock together,” said Andre Augustine, a 33-year-old who works astatine a assemblage entree nonprofit, who voted for Mamdani.

“I consciousness similar the signs were already there. All the folks that were financing Trump’s run were besides financing Cuomo’s, and I consciousness similar [Cuomo] conscionable wouldn’t beryllium honorable astir it,” helium said.

For others, Trump’s endorsement was the feather that broke the camel’s back.

Dominique Witter is seen successful Mott Haven successful the Bronx [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera]

Dominique Witter, 39, a healthcare tech consultant, respected Cuomo’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic successful the city, but had been gradually shifting towards Mamdani.

She did not determine connected Mamdani until the last sprint of the race.

“It took maine a portion to get there, but I’m voting for Mamdani,” she told Al Jazeera arsenic she prepared to ballot successful Mott Haven.

“I’m not gonna lie; the Trump endorsement did not help. Because that’s not what we want, right?” she said.

“Oh no, that’s not an endorsement you want.”